DAY 1 Site Visit

On the first day after the site visit, the group had a brainstorming session to discuss observations made during the visit and idea of the design.

DAY 2 Workshop - Concept Drawings and Masterplan Design

This day was dedicated to concept development, initial design ideas and masterplan design. The design was developed through collages, mind-maps, precedent studies and sketches. This workshop firmly established the mystical forest concept and suggested interventions such as birdhouses, ornamental gnomes, mushrooms and ‘fairy doors’, and informative signs to describe the local wildlife.

DAY 3 Birdhouse designs and publication preparation

While the on-site team worked towards completing the initial practical jobs at the Glade, the proposal team carried out design development. The goal was to design a series of engaging interventions across the site that children taking part in the woodland school could interact with. Together, we started to conceptualise bird houses, bug boxes, arches, informational signs, and fantastical decorations which could be placed onto the site as a series of interventions. We also began to consider which interventions could be feasibly completed within the two week span of the project and which should be included as part of the future proposal for the Glades.

DAY 3 Mulching of General Area

A team of five people went to site to meet Oldham Council and discuss the Glade locations and pathway arrangements. The group then started to formalise these layouts with mulch provided by the council. As the specific location of trees and pathways were largely speculative up until this point, this helped to formalise the layout and suggested further possible uses of the space. The group could then decide on locations and quantities of birdhouses and signs for the workshop group to start building.

DAY 4 Precedent Studies and Publication Preparation

Once the on-site spaces were arranged and formalized, we were able to establish a clearer idea of how many birdhouses and signs were needed and determine whether further material was needed to create these. Diagrams, collages, and axonometric site-analysis drawings were developed alongside precedent studies and an early iteration of the publication. This too was helpful in clarifying the outputs, both on-site and for the publication.

DAY 4 Birdhouse Construction and Laser Engraving

Following the NSPCB specifications for birdhouse designs and the conceptual birdhouse designs on day 3, the workshop team started work on 3 birdhouses and 2 bee boxes to encourage wildlife inhabitation of the site. This involved sanding down and gluing the pallets together to form 150mm wide planks. These were then cut, drilled for the nesting holes and nailed together to form the birdhouses. Both the birdhouses and bee boxes were stained a dark brown to be blend in with the natural surroundings. The bee boxes followed a similar process with small holes drilled in large offcuts. Some of the remaining pallets were laser cut to create signages describing the local wildlife. Wires and posts were attached to allow for easy placement around the site.

DAY 5 Masterplan Design – Signages and Gnomes Making

Two students showed initiative in developing the mystical theme present on the existing Brook. One student created a windchime from Metal offcuts and a wooden block. Another student spent several days building gnomes and mushrooms to place around the site. These were painted and varnished to make them weather resistant. The gnomes are intended to be kept by the council and used during activity days. Meanwhile, the classroom group marked pathways on-site, plotted trees and started the masterplan drawing in preparation for the mulching of the pathways on day 6. The workshop group continued working on the birdhouses and fairy doors on day 5.

DAY 6 Mulching Pathway

On day 6, the on-site group began mulching pathways to connect the glade areas and establish a route through the woodland.

DAY 6 Finishing touches on birdhouses and engraving

The workshop group continued working to create more ornamental and functional elements to be placed around the site. These included a small bench and a fairy door, which were both made from the found pallets. The birdhouses were stained and the remaining signs were laser cut, with stakes and screws added to allow easy placement on site.

DAY 7 Publication Preparation

On day 7, the groups prepared the publication, compiling information from all groups to create a clear and concise narrative describing the design and construction process.

DAY 8 Finishing and Photo Taking of the Models

DAY 8 Finalising Publication

DAY 9

DAY 9
THANK YOU AND WELL DONE